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Original Text (Annotation: EPW016549 / 2003393)

' TSMV Southend Britannia 109ft l.o.a., of the Southend Britannia Co. Ltd. Board of Trade "Steam 6" Passenger Carrying Certificate to carry 348 persons for Coastal Cruising, trips were made to such Ports as Clacton, Ramsgate, and Margate. Built as a copy of the New prince of Wales by Thornycroft's Yard at Southampton, , and launched for 1924 Holiday Season. Cost, £12,000 approx.. First in Service at Southend, May, 1924. Taken to Dunkirk by her own master and crew under nominal Command of a very junior RNVR acting sub-Lieutenant. Ferried troops from Dunkirk Harbour and from beaches out to larger ships offshore. Survived Dunkirk operation, and spent rest of WW2 as Naval Auxiliary in Nore Command*. [*Ref -see "The Red List" for September, 1940 , et seq.] For an explanation of the circumstances of ALL the 36 Southend "little ships" that took part in the Evacuation from the Dunkirk beaches - read "To Rescue Our Soldiers", - [a 12 page intro. is available to view at] - a copiously-illustrated 180page non-fictional account with explanatory appendices, available for £15.99 from . '